PATNA - A street hawker, Sunil Verma, was beaten to death at Chintamanichak village under the Mokama Polce station in Patna district on late Wednesday evening.

Mokama police station SHO Sona Lal Singh said a scuffle broke out between Sunil and a group of persons while they were boozing late on Wednesday evening. Armed with lathis, the rival group mercilessly assaulted Sunil, resulting in his death on the spot.

The SHO said a named FIR was lodged against four persons in this connection. Raids are on to nab the killers, he added.

In another incident, 40 criminals were arrested during a special drive launched by the Patna police on Wednesday and Thursday. Two of them were arrested in connection with murder cases while five were arrested on the charge of dacoity. Six criminals were arrested in connection with loot cases while three others were arrested in connection with theft cases.

The Naubatapur Polce arrested one Shatrughan Yadav in connection with a murder case reported in 2005. Yadav had been evading arrest for the past six years.